Zechariah 4

CHAPTER 4THEME: Vision of the lampstand and two olive treesWe have come now to Zechariah’s seventh vision. Thinking back over the visions he has had, we can see a story unfolding. He has seen (1) the riders under the myrtle trees, (2) the four horns, (3) the four smiths or carpenters, (4) the man with the measuring line, (5) Joshua and Satan, and then (6) the Branch and the Stone with seven eyes in it. The first four visions symbolize the outward deliverance from the slavery and oppression of Babylon. The visions also look to the end times when Israel again will be scattered throughout the world, as they are today, then returned to their land when the Lord Jesus brings them back. The fifth and sixth visions symbolized inner salvation. The high priest Joshua, clothed in dirty garments which God replaced with clean garments, tells the story of a people brought back to the land for a purpose, but they can’t be used in their sin. They will have to be cleansed; but they cannot cleanse themselves, and their religion won’t do it. The cleansing has to come from someone outside themselves. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa_1:18). God Himself provides the redemption “…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Pe_1:19). The cleansing is actually salvation"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit_3:5). Now that Joshua, the high priest, is cleansed, you may think that he is ready for service. No, he is not quite ready. We come now to the vision of the golden lampstand, which is going to show us how Joshua is to fulfill the office of high priest.

Zechariah 4:1

VISION OF THE LAMPSTAND AND TWO OLIVE TREESLet me call your attention again to the fact that Zechariah was awake when he received these visions. At this point he already has had six tremendous visions. He was working the swing shift and the night shift and it was time to have a little rest. So after he had been given the sixth vision, he dozed off. Now the angel has to wake him up because he is not to be given this vision in a dream; he will see every bit of it.

Zechariah 4:2

The word candlestick in the Authorized Version is properly translated “lampstand” because this is the seven-branched lampstand which stood in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and later in the temple, and in our day it is one of the symbols of the nation Israel. There are other symbols of this nation which are used in Scripture, such as the burning bush, the vine, and the olive tree, but here it is the menorah, the lampstand. In the tabernacle, and later in the temple, the seven-branched lampstand was the most beautiful of the pieces of furniture. It was handwrought of solid gold. Bezaleel, the skilled artisan, was the one who fashioned it originally. There were three branches going out on each side of the main stem, and on top of each were bowls beautifully made like open almond flowers in which the lamps were placed. The high priest had charge of the lampstand. He would light the lamps and keep them filled with oil.

Also it was his business to trim the wicks and to see that they burned continually. In the Book of Revelation we have a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, walking in the middle of the lampstands which represented the seven churches in Asia Minor. He warned them that if they didn’t repent of their sins He would remove their lampstands. And He did just that. In modern Turkey today not one of those churches is in existence. They all lie in ruins.

Christ removed their lampstands. And in our own land our Great High Priest has closed the door of many a church which was not giving out the Word of God. Our Lord has a snuffer, and He just snuffs them out. And here in Zechariah’s vision the picture is of the nation Israel, represented by the menorah, which will in the future become a witness for God in the world. And here in Zechariah’s vision the picture is of the nation Israel, represented by the menorah, which will in the future become a witness for God in the world. “With a bowl upon the top of it.” This is something new which is added that you don’t find in the instructions given to Moses for fashioning the original lampstand. Here there is a “bowl” which acts as a reservoir or oil tank over the seven lamps so that the oil flows by gravity into the lamps from the elevated bowl. The oil is the all-important factor in the vision. The lampstand speaks of Christ; the lamps with the oil in them speak of the Holy Spirit. We have no better picture of the Holy Spirit than the oil of the lampstand. Hengstenberg is correct in saying that “oil is one of the most clearly defined symbols in the Bible,” and the symbolism is that of the Holy Spirit. While the oil represents the Holy Spirit, the light which is given out represents Christ because He is the Light of the World. The lampstand probably presents the most complete picture of Christ that the symbolism of the tabernacle gives to us. The measurement of the lampstand was not given because it is impossible to measure deity. It was fashioned in a very wonderful way with open almond blossoms at the top into which the little lamps were placed after they had been filled with oil and their wicks trimmed. When the Lord Jesus was preparing to leave this earth, He told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit, adding, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak…. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (Joh_16:13-14). With that in mind, look at the lampstand. The lampstand supported the lamps with the light shining from them, and the light, in turn, revealed the beauty and glory of the lampstand. In just such a way, the Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself, but He reveals the glories and the beauties of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 4:3

The two olive trees were identified in Zechariah’s day. Zerubbabel, who was the king in the line of David, is one of the olive trees. The other olive tree was Joshua, the high priest. They would be the two instruments God would use to bring light back into the nation Israel and to make them a light to the world. The olive oil, as I have already indicated (the word in the Hebrew is beautiful: golden oil), represents the Holy Spirit. This prophecy is also destined for a future day, the Great Tribulation period. This is clearly identified for us in the Book of Revelation: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks [lampstands] standing before the God of the earth” (Rev_11:3-4). Out yonder in the Great Tribulation period there will be no witness on the earth because the Antichrist, with the power of Satan (since God withdraws His hand for that brief moment), will have stopped the mouth of every witness on the topside of the earthwith the exception of two. God says that always in the mouth of two witnesses a thing is established.

Also God says He will never leave Himself without a witness. During that period there will be these two men who will witness for Him. Who they are is speculation. I think Elijah may be one of them, but whether the other is Enoch, whether he is Moses, whether he is John the Baptist, or somebody else, I do not know. But their identity is not the important thing. God will have two witnesses, and they will speak in the power of the Holy Spirit in that day.

They will be God’s witnesses. That is His promise for the future just as He used Zerubbabel and Joshua in Zechariah’s day. Let me say again that the visions of Zechariah are like stepping-stones which tell out a story. They reveal a very beautiful and complete picture when we put them together. God gave these to the returned remnant for their encouragement. The children of Israel had been in Babylonian captivity and now had returned to the land of Israel. God had made it clear to them that all of this had happened according to His plan and purpose. Now back in the land, they had to be cleansed from their sins and brought into a right relationship with God so that they could render an effective testimony for Him. Although these visions of Zechariah had a local fulfillment for the past, they also looked forward to the future. The complete fulfillment will be during the millennial period when God will return the Jewish people to the land of Israel. And God will cleanse them in that future day. In chapter 13 of Zechariah we will find that a foundation will be opened for the cleansing of David’s offspring and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. After they have been cleansed, they will become a light to the worldwhich was God’s original intention for them. In Deu_32:8 we read this remarkable verse: “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” Why did He arrange the nations according to the number of the children of Israel? The reason is that God intended them to be His witnesses. The land of Israel is a very sensitive piece of real estate. God has chosen it and made it that way. He chose it because it was the very center of the three major continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is right on the crossroads of those three continents. There is no place on earth that is more sensitive or that has caused more international problems than that little spot. I think that God intended that it should be that way.

And there will be trouble until Israel becomes the center for the proclamation of the Word of God. In Eze_5:5 we read these words: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.” Why? So she could be a witness. And in that future day they will be a witness in every corner and crevice of this world. It is interesting that the popular symbol of Israel today is the menorah. When I have visited in Israel, the fig tree, the vine, and the olive tree symbols have not been in evidence, but I have seen the menorah in many places. I was there during their twenty-fifth anniversary, and I saw the menorah symbol everywhere. Someday the people of Israel will be the witness which God intended them to be. Israel has failed in the past, but the church is failing in the present. Although Christ has commanded us to go into all the world with the gospel, there are many places in the world that have no witness at all. I am delighted to be penetrating some of those unreached places by means of radio. A letter came to me from South America telling of a young man who had come to know Christ through listening to the Bible teaching by radio, and he immediately became the preacher to his village. Why? Because there wasn’t any preacher there, and he was the only witness in the town. He became a flaming evangel, a light for the Lord in that place. In that future day the Jewish people will be witnesses in every corner of the world, and the Word of God shall go out from Jerusalem. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa_2:2-3).

Zechariah 4:4

This young man Zechariah has no inhibitions, so he says, “I see these things, but what is the meaning of them?”

Zechariah 4:5

The answer of the angel implies that Zechariah should know what it means. In effect he is saying, “You ought to be able to understand it. You are looking at the golden lampstand, and you ought to know the meaning of that.” Well, Zechariah didn’t. He said, “No, my lord, I don’t understand it at all.”

Zechariah 4:6

Notice that this is God’s message to Zerubbabel. Now who is Zerubbabel? He is serving as the civil head of Jerusalem (while Joshua is serving as the religious head). He was the head of the tribe of Judah at the time of their return to Jerusalem after the seventy-year Babylonian captivity. He is the one who led the first group of his people back to their homeland, as described in the Book of Ezra. Zerubbabel’s great work was that of rebuilding the temple, but the work was dogged by danger from the outside and discouragement from within. God is giving this vision to strengthen the faith of Zerubbabel. It has real meaning for him, and also it contains a great principle for you and me. Here is the message: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” The words might and power are quite interesting. Might is a general word for human resources such as physical strength, human ability or efficiency, or wealth. Power also denotes mere human strengthphysical, material, and mental strength. Therefore, let me give you my translation of this verse: “It is not by brawn nor by brains, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” You can see that this would be a great encouragement to Zerubbabel, the civil ruler. He and Joshua, the religious ruler, were represented by the two olive trees who were supplying oil to the lampstand. The message is simply this: It will not be by your cleverness, you ability, or your physical strength that the temple will be rebuilt, but by the spirit of God. My friend, if the spirit of God is not in our enterprises today, they will come to naught because God is not carrying on His work by our brain or brawn. We speak of clever preachers who deliver very well-composed sermons and all of that, but God’s work is not carried on that way. Sometimes a clever preacher is a dangerous man. The fellow who is sharp mentally may be sharp in the wrong direction and cause a great deal of difficulty among God’s people. I have had to stand on the sidelines and see a great deal of religious racketeering going on when I couldn’t lift my voice against it without being misunderstood. It is quite evident that some clever fellows were good backslappers, good public relations men, good administrators, had nice personalities and a great deal of charisma, and they made an appeal.

But God does not carry on His work by the human instrument. It is “not by might nor by power”; it is not by brain nor by brawn, but it is “by my spirit, saith the LORD.” Let me be personal and very frank. Anything that Vernon McGee does in the flesh, that is by his own effort, God hates. He can’t use it. It will come to nothing because it is nothing in the world but Vernon McGee building a haystack which ultimately is going to be consumed by fire. God wants to do His work through us, be the power of the Holy Spirit. This is important for us to see. Now looking into the future, this will be especially true during the Millennium. Again, it will not be by brain or by brawn, “but by my spirit, saith the LORD.” David Baron has put it like this: “It is in His light, and by means of the golden oil of His Spirit, which shall then be shed upon them abundantly, that Israel’s candlestick shall yet shine with a sevenfold brilliancy for the illumination of all the nations of the earth.” That, my friend, is a great statement. Back in the days of Zechariah there was a remnant that needed this encouragement because they were overwhelmed by opposition, and they were beset by doubts and by fears. So the vision was givenit is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabelto encourage them.

Zechariah 4:7

“Who art thou, O great mountain?” The mountain represents opposition. This vision encourages them to believe that Zerubbabel will be able to remove the mountain of opposition. The Lord Jesus used “mountain” in that sense. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Mat_17:20). I don’t think our Lord was speaking of removing physical mountainswe don’t know of any physical mountains being moved in that daybut the faith that removes mountains is the faith that removes obstacles and opposition to the work of God. And that is the picture this vision gives. God’s temple will be rebuilt regardless of the seeming impossibilities. “And he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” The headstone is the finishing or gable stone which marks the completion of a building. He is saying that the temple will be completed with the shoutings and cheers of the people. What an encouragement this was to the disheartened remnant!

Zechariah 4:8

This is God’s promise that the work won’t drag on and finally be completed by someone else, but that Zerubbabel himself is going to finish it. It reminds me of the promise in the New Testament: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Php_1:6). God is saying to Zerubbabel, “You have laid the foundation, and I was with you. Well, you are going to put the roof on it, too, and I will be with you.”

Zechariah 4:10

“For who hath despised the day of small things?” I can tell you who haswe despise the day of small things. We Americans are impressed with the big and brassy. We like our Christian work to be a success story. And we measure success by the size of the building and the crowds that come to it. Well, I am becoming more and more convinced that the Lord is working in quiet ways and in quiet places today. I am talking to myself when I say that we should quit despising small things. “For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven.” The “plummet” or “plumb” is a weight on the end of a string, and it is used to determine if a building is vertical to the earth. I wish I had thought of using a plummet when I put up a little shed on my placebecause it isn’t quite straight. “They are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth” indicates that God knows what is going on, and He is still overruling.

Zechariah 4:11

Zechariah is asking again for an explanation. And the angel’s answer, “Knowest thou not what these be?” implies that he ought to know. But he doesn’t know.

Zechariah 4:14

These are the two Spirit-filled men, Zerubbabel, the civil ruler, and Joshua, the religious ruler. We have already seen that Joshua, representing the nation, has been cleansed and now stands in clean garments. When the remnant of Israel confessed their sin and accepted God’s redemption, they were cleansed and now stand in the righteousness of Christ. Therefore, they can be Spirit-filled and can be used of God. This has a message for you and for me. God wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit. But there are certain conditions to be met. Two of them are negative: (1) “…grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph_4:30). We cannot be filled with the Spirit if there is sin in our liveswe have to be clean in God’s sight. (2) “Quench not the Spirit” (1Th_5:19). Quenching the Spirit is being out of the will of God.

And when we are out of the will of God, God cannot use us. If God wants you in Africa and you are still in your homeland, I don’t think God is going to use you here. But, my friend, if you are in Africa and God wants you to be in your own country, He won’t use you there either. The third condition to be met for the filling of the Spirit is positive: (3) “…Walk in the Spirit …” (Gal_5:16). Walking in the Spirit is a very practical sort of thing. It is to walk by means of the Spirit, to rest on Him, depending upon Him to do what we cannot do ourselves. The vision of the lampstand was an encouragement to the remnant in Zechariah’s day; it has an application to our day; and it looks forward to the day when God will pour out His Spirit without measure. I see very little of a genuine pouring out of His Spirit in our contemporary society, but during the Millennium He is going to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. That day is yet future, my friend.